It will be a race to the nearest Target this Sunday, February 9, for fashion lovers across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The mega-retailer is set to launch yet another anticipated designer collaboration, this time with the increasingly popular London-based label, Peter Pilotto. Recently announced as the winner of the 2014 British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, Peter Pilotto for Target will now be met with even higher expectations due to this added accomplishment.

 

 

This debut marks the latest of many high-profile collaborations for Target. From Prabal Gurung to 3.1 Philip Lim to Missoni, these partnerships have proven successful over the years for not only the Target brand, but for designers seeking to offer more affordable versions of their otherwise high-end apparel to a broader consumer base.

 

 

Setting this launch apart, Peter Pilotto will be the first Target collaboration to offer not only women’s apparel, but also swimwear and matching accessories. Marked by bold prints and patterns splashed in red, blue, green, and orange color schemes, the items suit the upcoming spring and summer seasons. Designers Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos (pictured above) note, “Our brand is about print, yes, but it’s also about the emotional feeling you can get from color and color combinations.”

 

 

With prices ranging from $14.99 to $79.99, those emotions may be at an all-time high for shoppers looking to stock up before the limited-edition items sell out. For Target’s previous designer launch last September, lines formed outside store doors well before opening hours. Early shoppers then often left next to nothing for those who wandered in later in the day.

Familiar to die-hard Black Friday shoppers, applying a similar “survival of the fittest” mentality to this event will be second nature.  For others, mark your calendars, get plenty of sleep, and note our tips to make the most of the launch:

 

1. Know which local Targets will carry the collection. Only a select number of brick-and-mortar stores will house the full range. Call your desired location ahead of the launch to avoid wasted time. Most Target stores open at 8 a.m., so plan your shopping excursion accordingly.

2. Learn the layout of your local store. As soon as the doors open, you want to make a streamlined attack. Know where the women’s clothing section is located ahead of time.

3. Study the collection and note “must have” items in advance. Select pieces are featured herein, with a complete look book available online. Browse through the collection, and take note of what you can’t live without. Then, remember to stay focused once you get inside the store.

4. Bring your smart phone or iPad to make online purchases if necessary. If you’re like us, you prefer to evaluate quality and fit in person. Just in case, however, come prepared to buy online if your coveted pieces are not available or out of stock in your size.

 

All images via Target.